Method and apparatus for allowing communication within a group

TECHNICAL FIELD

p-0002This invention relates to communication and messaging systems.

BACKGROUND

p-0003Due to increased Internet bandwidth to the home, environmental considerations, and economic factors, more and more people are starting to work at home rather than to go into a more traditional work place. This trend cuts across a variety of industries and governmental entities. Whereas, working at home does allow the individual to avoid commuting and to have a larger and quieter work space, an individual who works at home does not have the group experience. In a more traditional office environment where a number of people sit in close proximity, an individual having a question can simply voice the question in a short voice expression and get an immediate response from the group. An individual working at home can set up a conference call to all of the individuals in the group who are remote and ask the same question, but this is a time consuming process.

p-0004The other alternative that can be utilized is to send an instant message to the group. The disadvantaged of the instant message is that it requires the individual to type the question and then for people to respond with a written answer. It is well known that for short questions most people prefer to hear the question and respond vocally.

SUMMARY

p-0005A method and apparatus exchange information within a predefined group of telecommunication terminals with each of the group being utilized by a user by forming a voice message by one of the group; communicating the voice message to the remainder of the group via instant message communication; and converting the instant message communication to a voice conferencing communication that includes all members of the group that remained part of the instant message communication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment of system; and

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref> illustrate, in flowchart form, operations performed by communication terminals in one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

p-0008In one embodiment, an individual wishing to ask a question of a predefined group transmits an instant message that utilizes a voice message rather than a text message. Each individual of the group can then respond to the instant message or chose to drop off of a session created by the instant message. The responses from the individuals of the group are transmitted to all members of the group who are still active on the session. At a later point, any active individual of the group can convert the instant message session into a voice conference call.

p-0009<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates an embodiment. Public switched telephone network <b>101</b> interconnects communication devices such as telephone <b>112</b> to enterprise switching system <b>102</b>. Enterprise switching system <b>102</b> provides voice and other types of media communication capabilities for communication terminal <b>114</b>, telephone <b>116</b> and TTY terminal <b>117</b>. One skilled in the art would realize that there could be a plurality of each of these types of devices. Enterprise switching system <b>102</b> thus allows a telephone such as telephone <b>116</b> to place a call to a telephone connected to the public switched telephone network <b>101</b>.

p-0010Further, enterprise switching system <b>102</b> not only allows a communication terminal such as communication terminal <b>114</b> to place voice calls, but also access to IM messages via enterprise IM system <b>106</b>. In addition, a communication terminal such as communication terminal <b>114</b> may also gain access to the switching network <b>104</b>.

p-0011Further, communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>106</b>, and <b>118</b> are interconnected via switching network <b>104</b> to enterprise switching system <b>102</b>. In addition, enterprise wireless system <b>121</b> also provides wireless service normally within a geographic location of an entity.

p-0012Enterprise IM system <b>106</b> provides a secure IM communication means for users within an entity. Communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>109</b>, and <b>114</b> may be geographically dispersed even though they are considered as being part of the enterprise entity.

p-0013A user assigned to enterprise switching system <b>102</b> may be present on cellular system <b>119</b>, public switched telephone network <b>101</b>, enterprise IM system <b>106</b>, and enterprise wireless system <b>121</b>. Presence server <b>107</b> may be used to receive information concerning on which IM system the user is present, and this information may be stored in presence information database <b>108</b>. The operations of these systems with respect to user's presence is detailed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0141594 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

p-0014To understand the embodiment illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, consider the following example. Communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>109</b>, <b>114</b>, and <b>118</b> are in a predefined group. Assume that the user of communication terminal <b>114</b> has a question which they wish to pose to the other users of the group. The user activates the voice message operation by actuation of one or more keys or curser selections on communication terminal <b>114</b>. The user then records a short message. After the message is recorded, communication terminal <b>114</b> sends this voice message to communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>109</b>, and <b>118</b>. Advantageously, the message may be sent in an invite message of the session initiation protocol (SIP). SIP is defined in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) 3261 “SIP: Session Initiation Protocol”, June, 2002. The short voice message is included in proprietary fields of the invite message.

p-0015Whether the message is actually outputted on communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>109</b>, or <b>118</b> depends if these terminals are present on network <b>104</b>, the user has not specified that they wish not to receive such messages at the present time, or the communication terminal is currently performing operations during which it is unadvisable to play a message. One such operation would be if the user of the communication terminal was engaged in an active voice call.

p-0016Assume for the example that the user of communication terminal <b>118</b> does not wish to respond or be part of any answers concerning the questions it has received. The user terminates the session created by the invite message by striking a particular key, cursor selection, or voice command. Communication terminal <b>118</b> then terminates the session, and the proper messages are transmitted back to the other communication terminals of the group.

p-0017The users of communication terminals <b>103</b> and <b>109</b> do respond and may do so simply by speaking their response when the communication terminals are capable of recognizing the onset of voice. Also, in another embodiment, the users of the communication terminals will strike a key to indicate that they are going to record a message. When the message is recorded, it is transmitted to communication terminal <b>114</b> and the other communication terminals who are still active on the session. Assume for the sake of the example, that communication terminal <b>103</b> transmits a remark or response and the user of communication terminal <b>109</b> decides not to respond but to remain part of the session. The response from communication terminal <b>103</b> may advantageously be transmitted again in another invite message to communication terminals <b>114</b> and <b>109</b>. The communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>109</b>, and <b>114</b> can continue to transmit back and forth these recorded messages or any of the communication terminals can convert the session into an actual voice call by transmitting a re-invite message requesting that a RTP stream be established using standard SIP protocol to communicate the conference call that is now established between communication terminals <b>103</b>, <b>109</b>, and <b>114</b>.

p-0018In the previous example, if communication terminal <b>114</b> determines that the user of say communication terminal <b>118</b> is not present on communication terminal <b>118</b> but rather is present on cellular telephone <b>116</b>, the initial message will be transmitted to cellular telephone <b>116</b>. Similarly, if a user present on enterprise wireless system <b>121</b> as determined by presence server <b>107</b>, the messages will be transferred to the user on enterprise wireless system <b>121</b>. Further, it is possible for a user to be utilizing TTY terminal <b>117</b> in which case, enterprise switching system <b>102</b> will translate the voice message to the text protocol of a TTY terminal.

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref> illustrate, in flowchart form, operations performed by communication terminals in one embodiment. After being started in block <b>201</b>, decision block <b>202</b> determines if the user of the terminal has indicated that they want to transmit an audio question. If the answer is yes, block <b>203</b> records the message, and block <b>204</b> forms and transmits an invite message with the recorded message in proprietary fields.

p-0020After execution of block <b>204</b>, decision block <b>206</b> determines if a response had been received back to the audio question. If the answer is yes, block <b>207</b> plays the response before transferring control back to decision block <b>301</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

p-0021If the answer in decision block <b>206</b> is no, decision block <b>208</b> determines if the user of the terminal wishes to transfer to voice communication via a conference call by establishing a RTP stream. If the answer is yes, block <b>209</b> forms and transmits a re-invite message for a RTP stream before transferring control back to decision block <b>206</b>.

p-0022If the answer in decision block <b>208</b> is no, decision block <b>211</b> determines if a re-invite message has been received as part of the session to establish a RTP stream so that a conference call can take place. If the answer is yes, block <b>212</b> performs normal processing in response to the re-invite message before transferring control back to decision block <b>206</b>.

p-0023If the answer in decision block <b>211</b> is no, decision block <b>213</b> determines if the session that was established by the transmission of the audio question has been terminated. If the answer is no, control is transferred back to decision block <b>206</b>. If the answer is yes in decision block <b>213</b>, block <b>214</b> performs normal processing before transferring control back to decision block <b>202</b>.

p-0024Returning to decision block <b>202</b>, if the answer in decision block <b>202</b> is no, control is transferred decision block <b>301</b>. The latter decision block determines if an audio question has been received in an invite message. If the answer is no, control is returned to decision block <b>202</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. If the answer is yes in decision block <b>301</b>, control is transferred to decision block <b>303</b>.

p-0025Decision block <b>303</b> determines if the user wants to respond and if the audio question is coming from the proper group. The user may indicate they want to respond to the audio question by a keystroke or voice command. Also, the user may predefine that the audio question is to be refused when the user is actively engaged in a voice call. Further, the user can define situations under which no response will be given to the audio question using a software agent executing rules predefined by the user or by presence rules entered into a presence server such as presence server <b>107</b>. If the answer is no in decision block <b>303</b>, control is transferred to decision block <b>307</b>.

p-0026If the answer is yes in decision block <b>303</b>, block <b>304</b> records a message and block <b>306</b> forms and transmits an invite message with the recorded message before returning control to decision block <b>302</b>.

p-0027If the answer is no in either decision block <b>302</b> or <b>303</b>, decision block <b>307</b> determines if the session has been terminated. If the answer is yes, block <b>308</b> processes this normally before returning control back to decision block <b>202</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

p-0028If the answer in decision block <b>307</b> is yes, block <b>309</b> determines if the user of the terminal wishes to change the session to an RTP stream so as to establish a voice conference call. If the answer is yes, block <b>311</b> forms and transmits a re-invite message for a RTP stream before returning control back to decision block <b>302</b>.

p-0029If the answer in decision block <b>309</b> is no, decision block <b>312</b> determines whether a re-invite message has been received to establish a RTP stream. If the answer is yes, block <b>313</b> performs normal processing before transferring control back to decision block <b>302</b>. If the answer in decision block <b>312</b> is no, control is transferred back to decision block <b>302</b>.

p-0030When the operations of a control computer, telecommunication terminal or server are implemented in software, it should be noted that the software can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer related system or method. In the context of this document, a computer-readable medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer related system or method. The control computer, telecommunication terminal or server can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. For example, the computer-readable medium can be, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, for instance, via optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

p-0031In an alternative embodiment, where a control computer, telecommunication terminal or server is implemented in hardware, control computer, telecommunication terminal or server can be implemented with any or a combination of the following technologies, which are each well known in the art: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

p-0032Of course, various changes and modifications to the illustrative embodiment described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims except in so far as limited by the prior art.